LYNCHBURG, Va. The Randolph volleyball hosted Hollins University of Virginia University of Lynchburg on Saturday afternoon. The WildCats picked up their first ODAC win of the season by defeating Hollins 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-19) and then getting a 3-0 win over the Dragons (25-13, 25-15, 25-10)
Randolph's overall record improves to 8-9 overall and 1-5 in the ODAC.
In the Hollins match, the WildCats started off hot as they led 9-1. Randolph dominated the set as it a collective .357 on its way to winning 25-10.
The 'Cats held a 7-5 lead in the second set before they burst out with a 13-1 run to go up 20-6. Randolph hit at a .348 clip as they easily won the frame 25-13.
In the third set, Hollins held a 7-6 advantage early on. Randolph was able to pull away and take a 17-14 lead. The WildCats went on a 5-0 run to pull ahead 22-14. HU closed to within five points late at 24-19 but an attack error granted the 'Cats the last point they needed to win the set and take the match.
Randolph had its second-best hitting percentage of the season as it finished at .330. Brooke Murdock (Evington, Va./Timberlake Christian) led the way with 13 kills and a hitting percentage of .684 and also finished with five total blocks. Jayda Domenech (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) had 17 assists. Gracie Fulton (Staunton, Va./Riverheads) had 17 digs while Tahani Villines (Whittset, N.C./Williams) finished with 10 digs.
Against VUL, Randolph got out in front 7-2 and increased the lead to 17-6. The Dragons had a brief rally to bring the score to 23-13 but an attack error on VUL and a kill by Sequoyah Sorensen (Millville, Utah/Western Albemarle) gave the WildCats the set win.
The Dragons led 3-1 in the second set until the WildCats used a 7-1 run to lead 8-4. The Randolph lead grew to 13-6 and then 19-9. The WildCats led comfortably on their way to the 25-15 set win.
It was all WildCats in the third set as they got out to an 11-1 lead. Randolph had a double-digit advantage until the Dragons closed to within nine at 16-7. That would be as close as they would get as Randolph broke off a 7-1 down the stretch to win 25-10.
Murdock led the WildCats once again in kills with seven. Villines added six kills and three digs. Izzy Allen (Williamsburg, Va./Peninsula Catholic) had nine assists with Domenech contributing six. Fulton was the digs leader with 13 and also had five service aces.
Randolph hosts cross-city rival Lynchburg on Wednesday night at Giles. Match time is at 6:30 p.m.